Vending machine



06ft. 15, A w SCHWAB ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet l hut-#70125 A4552? W C/VWAB ATTOIEIYE v @CL 15, 1935. A. wHWAB ET AL I 2,017,078

VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1934 2 Sheets-5heet 2 hut-N703: A455er M4JC/YWAB MAL/AM I Nae/2A9 firm ArroB/wv Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITEDSTATES 2,017,078 VENDING MACHINE Albert W. Schwab and William J.

Norris, I

Cape Girardeau,Mo. v p v 7 Application February 12, 1934, Serial No.710,788

3 Claims. (01. 31297.1)

The invention relates to improvements in a vending machine, and hasamong its objects the production of such a machine which shall be neatand attractive in appearance, simple in con- '.struction and operation,sturdy and durable so as to effectively perform its intended functions,economical to'build, and satisfactory and eflicient for all purposes forwhich the same is adaptable.

One of the principal purposes and objects of the invention is theproduction of such a vending machine which shall be composed of a seriesof horizontally mounted commodity-receiving platforms rotatable in a.step-by-step movement to successively deliver said individual units ofthe commodity to the operator of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to so construct said device that itwill be automatically locked'against movement in one direction ofrotation when the same is open for inspection,

filling, etc., independent of the normal operating means, but permit ofrotational movement of the magazine platforms in the reverse direction.

A stillfurther object of this invention is the provision of means toengage with the normal operating means at the end of a full rotation ofeach magazine, to lock it against further reception of operating coinsuntil the same has been refilled with a fresh supply of the vendiblecommodity.

Another object of our invention is the production of a merchandisevending machine comprising a series of horizontally mounted rotatablemagazine platforms, selectively operable so as to deliver the particularkind of the varieties of merchandise displayed, each of the magazineshaving a spring for normally propellingthe same upon operation of thecoin-controlled mechanism, in the direction of the unwinding of thespring, and in which the respective springs are wound up whenever themagazines are being replenished with fresh merchandise and during theoperation of moving the platforms to effect this filling.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which thisinvention appertains, from the disclosures herein given.

To this end, our invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

" In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout; the views,-

Figure 1 is apartial front elevation of the machine, with a portion ofthe front broken away in order to better. see the interior;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of one of the unitsof the.machine, with certain of the parts in plan view, and with the rear dooropened; 1

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion of a similar portion of the-machine,showing the door closed in normal position, and with the plunger andassociated operated mechanism in a different position; and I Figure 4 isa side elevation of the plunger-operated mechanism as mounted in placeand viewed from the rear.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein. we haveillustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, there is shown avending machine for the dispensing of any desirable articles. orcommodities of a variety or assorted kinds, there being a supply of eachvariety in the machine, and in which the purchaser may select theparticular species he desires before operation of the device, andreceive said species upon operation.- I j In said mechanism there is anouter covering or casing A, of any suitable size, shape and material,and in the present instance shown as rectangular in horizontalcross-sectional shape, the same. provided with a number ofcoin-controlled plungers- I, one for-each of the commodity magazines,and if desired arranged in staggered relation on the face of the vendingmachine, somewhat as shOWIl. In addition, there may be a displaycompartment or window 2, each containing one of the differentcommodities, to aid in the choiceof selection of merchandise. Adischarge opening or delivery outlet-3 is also arranged at the front ofthe mechanism, for reception by the purchaser of each of the varieties.

Any suitable coin-receiving means may be used in the device, the samenot forming a part of the invention, the only requirement being thatthere be aplunger-operated element I for operation in a manner to behereinafter set forth.

A series of vertically spaced platforms or trays B are arranged withinthe mechanism, there being one of these platforms for each variety ofmerchandise offered for sale, and each providing a magazine to hold asupply of such material.

spacedapart asuificient distance to receive the the plunger bringing thepawl ll: of the upper lever into position to engagea ainst the forwardin Fig. 2, practically the full effective size of thecompartment will beaccessible, and whereby the purchaser may remove the article in saidcompartment at that time.

A coil spring 8 may be used to propel each of the magazines, one of theends of the spring being secured or anchored to its respective magazine,and the other end anchoredto some fixed point, as for example to a shaftor rod 9 upon which the magazines are rotatably and horizontallymounted.

Adjacent each of the magazines isa means for cooperating with theoperating plunger I, so

as to release the former just a sufficient amount to permit the springto propel the magazine through the distance required to bring the nextadjacent compartment into registry with the discharge opening 3, topermit emptying of said compartment, locking the platform at the termination of such limited movement. This step-bystepmovement of themagazine ishadin the following manner,

A lever Ill is pivoted at one end at H to swing about said end in'ahorizontal plane, saidlever having a pawl l2 at the other, free end, toengage against the forward side of the partition wall 6,

the direction of rotation of the-magazine being as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 2, and there being an offset or abutment l3 projectinga'short distance upwardly adjacent said end. A second lever I4 is alsomounted on the pivot I l, intermediate its ends, so as to be similarlypivotally movable in a horizontal plane, one end of said leverprojecting in the same direction as butbeyond the end of the lever l0and provided thereat with a pawl or dog l5 adapted for engagement withand against the forward side of the compartments also, the distancebetween the engaging surfaces of said pawls l2 and I5 beingsubstantially equal to two and one-half compartments at their outermostperipheral edges. The other end "of said lever I4 is adjustably securedto one end of a rod 1 6 connected to the plungerv l. The projection I3is in'the path of movement of the lever 14 so that actuation of thelatter in one direction 7 will cause the same to engage with saidprojection.

to cause similar movement of the lever ID, as will 7 now be described. 77 g n 7 Assuming that the door or cover I! is in its normal, closedposition, a pressure to actuate the plunger l inwardly, will cause therod l6 to rock the lever l4 about its pivot I I engaging the abutment l3to rock the lower lever ID to release the pawl l2 ofthe latter fromloclging engagement with the partition wall 6, whereupon the spring 8propels the platform comparatively slowly a, short distance, thiscontinued pressure inwardly on sidebf the adjacent partition and limitfurther rotation of the platform in said unwinding direction; -A springI8 is interposed to resiliently urge said lower lever to itsnormalposition, while a portion lfl of the same spring, or of adifferent spring if preferred, coacts with the lever l4 at its pawl end45' to release the latter from its locking engagement with thepartition, and assist in returning the lever, l4 and the plungermechanism connected therewith to its original and normal positionindicated in Fig. 2.

' Thus, the forward actuation of the plunger first releases the pawl l2from looking position, per mitting partial rotation of the magazinethrough the action of the propelling spring, continued actuation of theplunger then locking the pawl [5 into locking position. Upon release ofthe plunger, the retrieving movement or return of the same to normalposition, from that shown in 'Fig; 3, through the action of the springsl8 and Iii/causes the pawl I5 to release and the pawl l2 propel themagazine through a full compartment length, suificient to bring theadjacent succeeding compartment into registry with the opening 3 topermit withdrawal of the contents selected.

Thus, a positive step-by-step movement of each of the magazines rotatingin its horizontal plane is had, and in which no unauthorized rotationalmovement in said direction may be had.

'A stop element or pin 20 may be arranged at some point on each of themagazines, to cooperate with an abutment 2| on the rod l6 of the plungermechanism, so that when the magazine has made a complete revolution,thus permitting emptying of all of the compartments thereof, the offset2| will then abut the pin 20 to lock the plunger rod against inwardmovement. Hence, the coin may not be inserted into the plunger mechanismand deposited within the receiving receptacle (not shown). withoutreceiving the desired commodity for said coin, because when the nextsucceeding compartment of the magazine is empty, the rotation ofthemagazine by the plunger will be stopped, until the magazine has beenre-wound and reloaded.

A locking pawl or dog 22 is arranged adjacent each magazine to swinginto the path of movement of the latter, as by engagement with thepartitions of the magazine, there being a spring 23 for urging said doginto locking engagement when the door or cover I1 is opened, asindicated in Fig. 2, the cover holding said dog out of lookingengagement, as shown in Fig. 3, when the cover' is in its normal, closedposition. Even when the dog is in its locked relation with the magazine,as shown in Fig. 2, it is obvious that the magazine may be rotated in adirection to wind the spring, the dog. ratcheting during the saidwinding direction of movement of the magazine.

When it is desired to hold the pawl l2 out of locking engagementfor along period of time, such' as while filling the magazine with freshproducts, this may be done by inserting a nail or other pointed elementinto the opening 24 to hold the element H! in the position shown in Fig.3, this nail or the like then engaging against the spring I8 to preventthe latter from returning the lever ID to its partition engagingposition, Then, with the cover open, the magazine may be actuated byhand in a direction reverse that shown by the arrow, andpermit offilling the successive compartments with fresh articles through theopening 3, the dog 22 looking said magazine against forward .movementbut ratcheting and 'permittingthe reverse rotation while feeding themagazine. It is to be noticed that during the process of re-loading themagazine, the propelling spring is wound up andwill be effective to per-7 form its" normal function.

Even though the plunger rod I6 is operated with excessive and unusualforce, no damage will tore-engage, and thus permit the spring 9 to.

result, because the actuation of the same, no matter how caused, willhave no other result than to merely release the pair of pawls in regularsequence, and they are made strong enough to withstand such handling.

A flange or guard 25 may be provided to encircle the lower plate of thecompartments and extending upwardly a short distance in order to preventthe merchandise therein from unduly shifting and extending too farradially and coming into contact with any obstructions during operation.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish tobe understood aslimiting ourselves to the exact form, arrangement, construction orcombination of parts herein shown and described, except as limited bythe state of the art to which this invention appertains, or the claimshereunto appended.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine having a delivery opening, a plunger controlledarticle delivery mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted magazinehaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced article compartments,means constantly urging said magazine to rotate in one direction, apivotally movable stop element engageable with said magazine to preventmovement thereof when the plunger is in normal inoperative position, asecond stop element movable independently of said first stop element andengageable with said magazine upon partial rotation of the latter andoperable by said plunger to release said first stop element, and meansoperable upon return movement of said plunger to its normal inoperativeposition for releasing said second stop element and permitting furtherrotation of said magazine and re-engaging said magazine with said firststop element, to bring the succeeding compartment into registry withsaid opening to permit emptying of the said compartment through saidopening.

2. In a plunger operated vending machine having a discharge opening formerchandise, a spring wound platform having a plurality of merchandisecompartments, means to operate said platform in a step-by-step movementto successively register adjacent compartments with said open-v ing, acover for said machine, and locking means operable by opening movementof said cover to engage said platform at substantially any positionthereof and prevent unwinding movement of said platform and spring.

3. In a coin-controlled vending machine having a discharge openingthrough which the merchandise is removed, a horizontal platform providedwith a series of circumferentially arranged compartments to hold saidmerchandise and from which the same may be removed when the compartmentsregister successively with said discharge opening, an operating plunger,2. spring normally urging said platform in one direction of rotation, apair of independently movable lever means operable in succession by saidplunger to permit said platform to rotate a distance less than theamount required to bring the next adjacent compartment into registrywith said opening, and permitting the balance of the required rotationalmovement of the platform upon the retrieving movement of the plunger tonormal position the first-acting of said lever means being fixed to saidplunger.

. ALBERT W. SCHWAB.

WILLIAM J. NORRIS.

